6.8 Western pet loads?

[gerry35]

I'll post a thread with more details, but thought I'd share my hunting success with my 6.8W.

Load Data:

• Bullet: 175gr Sierra Tipped Game King
• Primer: Federal LR Magnum
• Powder: 58gr H4831SC
• Jump: 0.020" off land
• MV: ~2835fps (no chrono, just back calculated based on empirical data generated by bullet drop. Saving up for a chrono.)
• MOA: ~1" groups at 200yds

Last 3 seasons between myself, kids and new-to-hunting friends (all one shot kills):

• 3 Elk (Cow@40yds, Bull@500yds, Bull@200yds)
• 4 Pronghorn (Buck@100yds, Doe@350yds, Doe@200yds, Doe@200yds)
• 5 Mule Deer (Buck@250yds, Doe@400yds, Buck@350yds, Doe@400yds, Buck@200yds)

Been really happy with the 175gr Sierra TGK's.

Pretty impressive results for the last 3 years. Looks like the 175 gr TGK does well on game of all sizes. Shouldn't 1"@ 200 yards be 1/2 MOA?

I should try H4831 sc as well. Going to confirm the 175 gr TGK 61 gr MagPro load next time out but it looks good. Seems like a really easy bullet to get to shoot well.

Maybe we need to start a 6.8 Western success thread. Going out again for mountain goat before my tag runs out at the end of the month. Spring bear is just around the corner as well.

 

[Lou270]

I am running 58 gr rl26 with 175 tgk in one of my 6.8W. Averages 2830 fps. 59 gr was 2900 fps. I went with lighter load as it matches velocity of factory ammo and had a cds dial cut.

Lou

 

[manitou1]

Nothing wrong with that, but not hard to understand that lead being a poisonous material is being banned. Plenty of monos to choose from and pretty dang solid performance unless you're stretching them really long range.

Do you know anybody who has died from eating game shot with lead bullets or shot?

I thought so...

Don't buy into the anti-hunting propaganda.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Nope, but that's not why lead is on the chopping block. If people want to consume lead even in small quantities, that's their business. It's everything else in the ecosystem that isn't smart enough to know better. Whataboutism finds its way into this each time.

I haven't bought into a damn thing, lead is a poison. When people defend their position to use lead with lowercase logic, and it gives as much a a shred of traction to anti-hunters, those are folks contributing to that cause, not the ones that say copper is a legit option.

 

[kevingm1987]

Pretty impressive results for the last 3 years. Looks like the 175 gr TGK does well on game of all sizes. Shouldn't 1"@ 200 yards be 1/2 MOA?

I should try H4831 sc as well. Going to confirm the 175 gr TGK 61 gr MagPro load next time out but it looks good. Seems like a really easy bullet to get to shoot well.

Maybe we need to start a 6.8 Western success thread. Going out again for mountain goat before my tag runs out at the end of the month. Spring bear is just around the corner as well.

Budget shooter supply out of Surrey has some Retumbo if you're still looking. Henry has been a solid guy or me, prices can be a little bit higher but super small time guy. Goes on Summer vacation soon though.

 

[kevingm1987]

Just picked up another 6.8w. Any one have an update on load data? Was getting good results with 4831sc for accuracy but it was slow with the 165s.

Have 165 ABLR, 170 EOL and 175 tgk.

Thinking I will start with the 165ablr. Probably run it under 7828 or Magpro.

Also, was a .270 guy, still aim, but now prefer 6.8. Plan to develop a 140gn partition round for moose hunting off highway 16 in BC. Should be able to push 3000+ in 20" barrel.

 

[gerry35]

Budget shooter supply out of Surrey has some Retumbo if you're still looking. Henry has been a solid guy or me, prices can be a little bit higher but super small time guy. Goes on Summer vacation soon though.

Thanks, I found some N 565 instead and am going to do some load work this summer with it. I'll update this thread after I do.

 

[kevingm1987]

Thanks, I found some N 565 instead and am going to do some load work this summer with it. I'll update this thread after I do.

Please do. Interested in that line of powders. Can be tough to find though. Was hoping to find some reloader at some point as well but odds look slim...

 

[gerry35]

Please do. Interested in that line of powders. Can be tough to find though. Was hoping to find some reloader at some point as well but odds look slim...

Yes the Alliant powders are impossible to find here these days. I ordered my N 565 from Nechako outdoors when they had a free shipping sale. Comes in 1 kg cans.

 

[Lou270]

Ramshot Grand looks very promising in 6.8W. Load data is up on hodgdon’s site. It is US made powder so hopefully not have the availability issues of some of the imports. I bought a few pounds of it to try but got too hot for me to do any load development.

Lou

 

[Okie-hunter]

This may have been asked already but where all are y’all getting your load data? Neither my Hornady or Sierra book have 6.8 Western data. I’m really interested in the cartridge and would like to do more research on it.

 

[Lou270]

Hodgdon reloading center and newest lyman manual has a bunch of 6.8W load data.

Lou

 

[gerry35]

Barnes and Berger have data too.

 

[Raghornklr]

Thanks, I found some N 565 instead and am going to do some load work this summer with it. I'll update this thread after I do.

How did this turn out?

 

[gerry35]

How did this turn out?

Just did a big move so won't get to it for at least a month with unpacking and renos. I'll definitely update this when I do. Really looking forward to trying it out.

 

[Raghornklr]

Bringing this back in case anyone has any new info

 

[NickT406]

20 inch 1:7 twist barrel
Staball HD
170 nosler bt
2870 average

I feel like I can still step on the gas with this load.
Would like to see what I can do with the Berger 170’s.
For reference the 175 factory load is shooting mid 2700’s out of this gun

 

[NickT406]

Watched a video from “reloading weatherby” on YouTube and he was getting some crazy velocities with n570 and Berger 170’s with a 26 inch tube. Not a hole lot of info on hand load velocities out there

 

[todd m]

20 inch 1:7 twist barrel
Staball HD
170 nosler bt
2870 average

I feel like I can still step on the gas with this load.
Would like to see what I can do with the Berger 170’s.
For reference the 175 factory load is shooting mid 2700’s out of this gun

my sub-half-MOA load for the Berger is 67.0 gr Staball HD. Shoots well between 66.7 and 67.3. I get 2920 FPS. I also can't get any more powder into the case (2.958 OAL) so pretty sure velocity is capped for that powder around my velocity. 24" barrel, Fierce Rage CT.

 

[todd m]

Watched a video from “reloading weatherby” on YouTube and he was getting some crazy velocities with n570 and Berger 170’s with a 26 inch tube. Not a hole lot of info on hand load velocities out there

join the FB group. People post and share load data all the time